Donald plays Kuchar, Watson takes on Kaymer in Accenture semifinals

Luke Donald looked dominant in his victory over former U.S. Amateur champion Ryan Moore Saturday morning.

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Associated Press and PA Sport

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Published: Saturday, February 26, 2011 | 2:54 p.m.

Luke Donald booked his place in the semifinals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Saturday afternoon with a polished quarterfinal win over Ryan Moore.

The 33-year-old Englishman, who is searching for a first win on American soil for five years and who will go to third in the world with a win in the competition, beat Moore 5&4 to send out an ominous warning to the remaining members of the field.

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2011 WGC-ACCENTURE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Accenture Match Play marks the beginning of the 13th season of World Golf Championship events.

The win was his second-largest at the competition, not quite matching his 6&5 success over Robert Allenby a year ago, but that will have mattered little as he rarely gave Moore a chance. He was four shots up on his opponent at the turn after five front-nine birdies, and carried on in a similar vein on the back nine, wrapping things up with a 15-footer with four holes to spare.

The one hole Moore did manage to win after the turn could also have gone Donald's way, with him chipping in from off the green on the par-5 11th, having driven into the sand.

"I've been working hard and it's nice to see the work paying off. I made a bunch of birdies and made it hard for Ryan," Donald said. "You do the same things, try and hit it close, give yourself opportunities and put pressure on your opponent."

Donald will face Matt Kuchar in the Saturday afternoon semifinals.

Kuchar overcame Y.E Yang 2&1 to build on his victory over Rickie Fowler Friday, knocking out Graeme McDowell's conqueror in the process. He had led by four at the turn, but after Yang dug in to win on the 10th and 13th holes, Kuchar held his nerve to chip onto the 17th green and then putt from three feet to win the match.

Martin Kaymer, knowing he will replace Lee Westwood as the world's best player if he makes it through to the final, had to cling on to get the better of Ryder Cup teammate Miguel Angel Jimenez. The German did not drop a shot on the front nine and was 4 up with four to play before Jimenez mounted a rousing fightback.

Kaymer had chances to halve the hole and win the match on the 15th, 16th and 17th holes but failed, leaving the Spaniard to birdie two of them and win all three to take the match down to the final hole.

Kaymer looked to have driven himself into a dangerous position, but a fine recovery with his third shot forced Jimenez to concede, giving Kaymer the win 1-up.

Kaymer will face Bubba Watson after a dramatic 19-hole clash with J.B. Holmes. Holmes led by five after 10 holes, but Watson mounted a stunning fightback to level the tie and send it to extra holes.

He actually had chances on the 16th and 17th holes as well, before taking the match to an additional hole on the 18th.

With both men taking their time, the last two holes lasted for well over an hour, before Watson landed a four-footer to take the game on the playoff.

"You have to play all 18 holes and I didn't finish off as I needed to. It's golf, it happens to somebody every year," Holmes said.